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The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously (9-0) passed a measure March 31 supporting the plight of farmworkers, whose employer, Gerawan Farming Inc. refuses to recognize it’s union contract with the United Farm Workers (UFW).
About 100 Gerawan farmworkers and supporters of the UFW participated in a march on Cesar E. Chavez day alongside San Francisco Supervisors David Campos, Jane Kim and John Avalos from 5th and Market streets to City Hall.
The UFW has represented workers at Gerawan since 1990. Its contract with Gerawan Farming Inc.—issued in 2013 by a neutral mediator and approved by the state of California—includes wage increases for the farmworkers, improvements in working conditions and other benefits. Gerawan, one of the country’s largest grape and tree fruit growers, has refused to honor the union contract issued in 2013, demonstrators said.
The Fresno-based Gerawan sells its produce in the San Francisco Bay Area under the label “Prima.”
The dispute over the workers contract will be decided by an administrative law judge in the months to come.